I upgrade every year.

I see two advantages.

First is the goods that come with the software. Improvements etc.

Second is the opportunity to tie my learning curve to the software design growth. Every year, I learn a lot about music mixing and how to do it with my software of choice. I don't want to learn the old way of doing it if the new way is already available. My time is a significantly higher investment cost than the upgrade fee.

If I jump ship to a new DAW, I would continue to upgrade that DAW just the same.

Changing software comes at a considerable cost because of the learning curve and the reduction in my work efficiency, so I would not do it lightly. I don't do this for a living. I'm a hobbyist with limited time to invest.

That said, this year I have tried Cubase and Ardour (comes on Linux Ubuntu Studio).

Lots of different opinions and insights so far. One thing I would like to add, is that I fear that not updating X2 further would ultimately devalue the Sonar "institution", and bring it into a downwards spiral. Indeed, while there are bugs and annoyances, being an experienced audio engineer I can workaround them, and I can work on my sessions without show stopping issues. But, if I were a reviewer, for example, making a report on X3, I would have no choice but to state the drop in the level of support and patching that can reasonably be expected from now on by this company. In the context of the rapidly evolving daw industry, this might even be grounds for docking a few points off the final score. This is obviously not a good way to bring new people into the Sonar world. Furthermore, while I'm part of the "serial upgrader" crew that feels a need to always have all the latest versions installed, there is another major segment of the user base who does not see it that way. The amount of people in here still on X1 or 8.5 shows this clearly. The final versions of these previous iterations have generally been very good and stable. This is why people keep using them. Having a less than stellar final version of X2 would make a dent in this tradition. If people feel "forced" to go to X3 in order to have a smoother, more pain-free producing experience, it can change their subconscious perspective towards Sonar in general by a lot. All this, as well as the decline of the amount of interaction between the users and the bakers, brings a lot of negative vibes to this community.

So, I've been following the forum for a while, and I'm not sure things are any more negative now than they always are. People like to B..tch. They do it a lot.

So, I've been following the forum for a while, and I'm not sure things are any more negative now than they always are. People like to B..tch. They do it a lot.


Gswitz...so no one in this thread has made any valid points, they just like to B..tch?  Thats a pretty dismissive view in my opinion.

X2 users: Would you buy X3 if there was no X2b?

NO! I will not buy X3 I have had it.


I'm looking and thinking of going back to Cubase 7 that has features like stability, VST3 + audio features, fantastic new mixer view use of large project, ICONS, METER, FREE COLOR of TASTE of the program GUI, Control Room, batch, Score notation, video-engine, and support of professional hardware control like EUCON, SSL, Yamaha right out of the box.


I love SONAR GUI and Pro channel but the last year its not the same Cakewalk anymore. No color option, no VST3, no listen on customer, fire key members of Cakewalk organization, it seem more less Cakewalk ending their business. Perhaps they aiming to make programs to beginners / toys and "first time" armature segment obviously not the professional. 

They seem more interested of putting all effort making Music creator 6 download with Steam when you download your other games instead of making a update patch B for the professional users..

 

Almost certainly, unless it was Win 8/touch only.
If that was the case then X2a would be my final DAW

 
I agree. If it goes there I am out. Otherwise I will likely stick with Cakewalk. It is hard to walk away once you get so invested.
 
J

I think Steve Strummer said it best with his comment about reciprocation. 

I've been a bit down of late on my perception of Cakewalk the company...I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt at this point but I'm concerned they may be headed in a direction that I don't care for. In 2013 I've watched other DAW developers release new products and a continuing line of patches all with a similar release schedule whereas Cakewalk seems stuck on "a".

As for X2a: I don't have many issues that I can't come to grips with...although Take Lanes seem, to me, a bit of kludge. X3? I will wait and see what the company comes up with...In the meantime I'd like to see a replacement for the online sessions that Seth and Brandon were doing. I thought they (sessions and individuals) were the mark of a company that valued it's customers.

Regards,

Having principles is a good thing.   Basing your DAW life around them... I dunno, seems a little odd to me.   SteveStrummerUK pretty much nailed it IMO with this statement:

For the record, X2a is working fine for me, but I'll decide whether or not to purchase X3 on its merits, and nothing else.

 
I won't choose whether to purchase X3 based on who from CW frequents this forum, or who was laid off, or whether they're selling their lower cost alternatives on Steam.   They may be indicators of how the company operates, or they may just be our *impression* of how the company operates.  The only thing that actually matters to me is the DAW that I sit in front of for those few valuable hours each week.  Everything else dissolves when that happens.
 

I will need to see what X3 offers for me. When you own a business like some of us do, the last thing you want to do is mess with a fine tuned machine. Here's your best bet if you want to be a successful DAW user.

Build a pc or have one built just for your DAW. Put the software of your choice on it, and leave it alone. Call that your workstation...no up update, do not upgrade, leave it alone and chalk it up as your recording device. As soon as you update or upgrade *something* your problems begin.

I have a box with nothing but Sonar 8.5, Wave Lab and Adobe Audition 3 on it. That's all I need to give someone a pro sounding piece of music. The more bells and whistles, the more your machines get jacked. Trust me.

I have a box with X1, X2, and all my other important programs on it as well as a few new ones I'm testing out. I've noticed little issues here and there since "the new ones I'm testing out" have been put on.

The moral of the story? Build a box, load it up with something you are happy with, leave it alone. If you want to try the latest and greatest, build another pc and start all over again leaving your good box in tact that will work and never let you down.

A word about old employees and boycotting etc: I've seen quite a bit of this talk around the forum. To me, no one knows how good or bad these said employees where to Sonar. None of us knew them...none of us worked with them, none of us know the truth. Just because you meet someone in person and think they are a good person doesn't mean they did their job the right way in the company. You don't get rid of an employee that is an asset to your company unless of course there is some sort of inside job and some "crap" going on behind the scenes. But none of us knows that either to pick up for anyone or show any loyalty.

I personally would like to give the new Baker staff a chance and see what they do with X3. I'm not "just going to buy it". I'll need to see if it's worth it for me....but it is my belief that these new guys may make a difference for the better. We can say what we want about the old staff or the old builds of Sonar. I wasn't THAT happy with them....were you? I have nothing against any of the old employees...I'm being honest. But I know nothing about them in an actual work environment anymore than you guys do. We don't work for the company...we don't know what went on or didn't go on.

I'm also thinking this whole "hush hush" deal is what the other companies are doing...this may be a good thing. They should be working on things instead of spending time talking with us. Granted, if it's after hours or whatever....I welcome it. But personally, I would like to see our Sonar the best that it can be. I'd like some of these old bugs we've had forever to be fixed. I'd like to see our colors and options come back. VST 3 support for those that need it. Gapless audio engine....better notation, take lanes fixed once and for all, other reported bugs fixed once and for all...you know the drill. Maybe this is what they are doing and to do that...it means staying off of the forum and staying IN the lab.

Also, and I've said this before...do not let these forums dictate anything. If 100 people complained every day about bugs and other issues...which is not even close to what we actually see on here, it means that 100 people out of how many hundred thousand.....are experiencing issues. Should Cakewalk just change it's entire business model for 100 unhappy users?

I think it would be ludicrous! However, those 100 users are just as important as the few hundred thousand that ARE happy. We need to fix these 100 people if at all possible. But it doesn't require a change of a business model. Think about it. There are a lot of Sonar users. Not all of them use this forum. They count as people too....so to me, if you have a few hundred thousand users and 100 are unhappy, you find out what is making the 100 unhappy....you don't alter your business model. We don't even know how many of the people that complain on here are legit. The ones I know for sure from being here....let's be real....30 tops? See my point now?

Sure, bugs exist...issues exist....X3 if there is one, may or may not be for you. Let's see if it even shows up and what it has in it before we totally 86 it. I'm hoping the new staff will make a difference. If not, there are other DAWs for us to try...it's not the end of the world and we shouldn't make it the end of the world. You just move on and find something that allows you to get your work done and don't give your money to a company you no longer believe in. It's that simple to *me*. And keep in mind...this is also coming from a guy that has quite a lot invested into Cakewalk products. I've been a user since 4.0 on floppy disks...so I know what it's like to have had something invested in this. That said, if I'm no longer happy, I walk and use something else. But I'm willing to see what X whatever it is, has to offer to me before I make any decisions. :)

-Danny

No